Re: //e disk density question

[dalloff@freenet.columbus.oh.us (Dave Althoff)]

Sdevious (sdevious@mcs.net) wrote:
: I am totally new to the apple, and just got a //e (The Enhenced Enhenced
: model with the light case,numeric keypad, and extra 64k memory) and it has
: a pair of disk drives (they connect to a card in the first slot on the
: right) that I am confused about.  These drives are both the lighter
: (almost white) color and seem to be the same 5 1/2 drives used on the GS. 

Beige, I'll bet.  If they have the black face, they are Disk ]['s; if they
have the plastic case, then they are UniDisks most likely...if the two
drives are mounted in the same case, then they are probably DuoDisks.  All
of the 5.25" Apple ][ disk drives use 140k single-sided disks...density
isn't your problem, though drive speed might be, or some other failure. 
Ideally, the drive controller card should be in Slot #6, which is the
second slot from the far right inside...though it is likely that the
connector will be in the rightmost opening on the back of the machine.

: My problem is that I can't read many of the //e disks I've come across. 
: All of the software I have that lacks the little notch on the top right
: side of the disk won't boot the computer.  I assume that these disks are

The notch is the write-enable notch.  If it is not present, the disk drive
will refuse to erase or write to the disk.

: low density and that my newer drives are high density and won't recgonize
: them.  Am I correct?  Also, in examining the system, I noticed a pair of
: connectors in the back between the video output and the paddle connector,
: these are marked with an icon that looks to me like an audio tape.  Could

Those are 1/8" phono jacks, intended for connecting a tape recorder for
program storage in the absence of a disk drive (!).  By the time the ][e
was introduced, almost nobody used cassette program storage, but for
whatever reason, Apple retained the cassette ports.  They can be used for
sound I/O...it is possible to produce a click on the output port, and the
input port can be used for one-bit sound sampling.  But the results are
generally pretty crummy

: these be sound in and out or are they for a disk drive?  I would be very
: grateful if anyone can help me boot the low density disks, and let me know
: about those ports.  I could also use some help finding some basic
: information on how to opperate the apple. (DOS commands, a starter guide,
: or anything else)  Thank you very much,

Do you get any messages when you try to boot the disks?  Some possibilities...

a)  "Apple //e" at the top of the screen and a whirring disk drive

(the disk is unreadable, blank, MS-DOS, or otherwise not bootable)

b)  "UNABLE TO LOAD PRODOS"

(the disk is a good disk, but lacks the boot code for ProDOS)

c)  0803-   A=9A X=F3 Y=0A P=30 S=EE
    *

(the boot track code is corrupt, causing the boot process to crash.  This
may or may not stop the drive motor)

Good luck with it!

--Dave Althoff, ][.
-- 
    /-\      Celebrating the International Year of the Roller Coaster
   /XXX\      /X\     /X\_      _     /XX\_Support Public Radio!_____  
  /XXXXX\    /XXX\  _/XXXX\_   /X\   /XXXXX\    /X\   /X\      /XXXXX
_/XXXXXXX\__/XXXXX\/XXXXXXXX\_/XXX\_/XXXXXXX\__/XXX\_/XXX\_/\_/XXXXXX